In the presidential campaign elections of both 1968 and 1972, Richard Milhous Nixon and his fellow Republican running mate, Spiro T. Agnew (1918-1996) were elected to office. In the 1968 campaign they defeated Hubert Horatio Humphrey (1911-1978) of the Democratic Party, and George C. Wallace (1919-1998) who ran as the nominee of the American Independent Party. In 1972, Nixon and Agnew defeated the Democratic nominee, George McGovern (1922-2012) and John G. Schmitz (1930-2001) of the American Independent Party.

Despite serving two terms as Ike's vice-president, Nixon lost his bid for the presidency in 1960, as well as a run for Governor of California in 1962. He bounced back, and in 1968 with the campaign slogan, "Nixon's The One", he was elected President of the United States. As his running-mate he selected Spiro T. Agnew, the Governor of Maryland. Nixon's wife, Patricia (1912-1993), was also featured on many of his campaign buttons.

Many significant events occurred during Nixon's administration. Man first landed on the moon in 1969, the military draft was ended, the Environmental Protection Agency was created in 1970, the 26th Amendment was passed in 1971 giving eighteen-year olds the right to vote (partially in response to the Vietnam war), negotiations with the Soviets aimed toward limiting nuclear weapons were initiated (Strategic Arms Limitation Talks/SALT), and an end to American involvement in the Vietnam war was negotiated. It was also Nixon who opened the door to relations with the People's Republic of China with his 1972 trip to Red China.

Vice-President Agnew resigned from office in 1973 as a result of corruption and pay-off scandals he was accused of being involved in while Governor of Maryland. Nixon then nominated and Congress approved the selection of Gerald R. Ford, the House Minority Leader, as the new Vice-President.

Faced with impeachment, Richard M. Nixon became the only President to resign from office, this being in August 1974. This was a direct result of what became known as "Watergate." This involved a break-in at the Democratic National Committee's Headquarters in the Watergate office building in Washington during the 1972 campaign. The burglars had ties with the "Committee to Re-elect the President (CREEP)". Convictions, accusations of cover-ups, and Nixon's apparent attempt to influence the investigation soon followed. Gerald R. Ford assumed the Presidency.

ID:acpb018

Creator:Al Feldstein

Rights:Al Feldstein

Collection Location:LaVale, Maryland

Subject:Campaign paraphernalia, United States, History; Presidents, United States, Election, History.